Threshold



THRESHOLD P. R OFTEDAL ET AL Filed April 3.8, 1936 Feb. 35, i938.

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Patented Feb. 15, 1938 PATENT THRESHOLD Philip R. Oftedal and Donald G. Kingsley, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 18, 1936, Serial No. 75,157

8 Claims.

The invention relates generally to thresholds, and more particularly to such devices intended primarily for use on exterior or outside door openings and which are adapted to cooperate with a weatherstrip to provide an effective seal against the elements.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved threshold of this character which in a relatively simple and economically produced structure embodiesI water-drainage and sealing facilities whereby in stallation is facilitated, proper operation insured, and deterioration of the threshold and adjacent structure prevented.

Another object is to provide a new and improved threshold oi this character wherein the ultimate water-discharge openings are so located and positioned as to insure proper drainage and prevent clogging of the openings.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a threshold embodying water-drainage facilities constructed and arranged to permit callring under the front or outside edge of the threshold throughout the entire width of the door opening.

Another object is to provide a threshold of this type constructed to drain efficiently and still prevent or retard the entrance of wind or water through the drain passages.

. Another object is to provide such a threshold constructed to embody the entire water-drainage system in a unitary structure whereby to facilitate and insure proper installation.

.. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing-in an installed position, a threshold embodying the features of the invention, the section being taken along the line i-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a reduced fragmental plan section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a reduced fragmental plan View of one end of the threshold shown inA association with the door jamb.

For purposes of disclosure we have illustrated in the drawing and will hereinafter describe in detail the preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that we do not intend to limiteur invention to the particular construction shown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of, the-appended claims. f

(Cl. 2li-64) In the embodiment chosen for disclosure herein the invention is embodied in a threshold lil, preferably formed by extrusion from a metal such as brass, and mounted in a door opening so as to overlie and conceal a joint li formed between an inner` wood floor l2 and an outside composition or concrete floor i3, the threshold Ill having an inner edge l# and an outside edge l5 overlying the floors I2 and i3 respectively.

At its ends, the threshold is associated in any preferred manner with door jambs lli (only one shown in Fig. 3), and a door Il is conventionally mounted on one of the jambs I6 for swinging movement inwardly over the inner edge lil of the threshold.

Generally considered, the threshold i9 is of uniform cross section throughout its entire length, and provides downwardly extending sup=` porting flanges 2i) and 2l along its inner and outer edges, while between these flanges suitable tread surfaces are provided. Thus an upper tread wall 22 slopes upwardly and inwardly from the outer supporting flange 2l to merge, beneath the normal door position, with a relatively at top tread wall 23. Outwardly, that is to the left in Fig. l, of the inner edge of the top tread 23 is a substantially vertical supporting web '2li extending downwardly to merge with an auxiliary supporting flange 25, thereby providing an in wardly extending' ledge 23a for cooperation with a weatherstrip 2S secured along the` lower edge of the door to provide a relatively tight joint between the door and the threshold. Between the web 2d and the inner supporting flange 2li is an upwardly and inwardly sloping wall 27 which merges with the flange'll inwardly of and just below the lower inner edge of a depending lip 28 of the door I l. Thus'the wall 2l and the web 24 define a trough 29 which receives any water which may be driven, as by excessive wind, around the edge of the ledge 232L and past the reversely and outwardly bent lower edge of the weather strip 25.

In accordance with the present invention the threshold it is provided with means to insure proper drainage of the water from the trough 2d, and this means is preferably so arranged and constructed as to facilitate installation, retard entrance of wind through the drainage means, and prevent clogging of the drainage passages, while permitting calking of both edges of the threshold.

In accomplishing these ends, one or more weepholes 3U are provided in the web 2d through which water may drain from the trough 29, and

means is provided for conducting such water to the outer edge of the threshold. As herein shown, this means for conducting the water outwardly from the weep-holes 30 is formed integrally with the web 24 and the flange 25, and comprises a drain plate 3|, so positioned as to slope forwardly and downwardly from beneath the weepholes 3B to the juncture of the tread 22 and the outer flange 2|. With this form and arrangement the outermost edge of the drain plate 3| is elevated a substantial distance above the floor level, and one or more outwardly sloping discharge ports 32 are provided in a vertical web 22a (Fig. 2) which co-nnects the tread 22 Vwith the supporting flange 2i. Preferably the flange 2i extends outwardly beyond the web 22a and has a rounded, downwardly and outwardly sloping surface 33 (Fig. l) so that water discharged from the ports 32 will drain down onto the outer floor i3.

With this elevated and inwardly spaced location of the ports 32 the possibility of clogging of the ports is avoided and continued satisfactory operation is assured. In addition, the lower outer edge of the outer supporting flange 2i is continuous and unbroken throughout the entire extent of the threshold so that suitable calking 34 may be employed along the entire outer edge, as well as beneath the inner and auxiliary supporting flanges 20 and 25. A downwardly facing groove Zia may be provided in the flange 2| to receive the calking 34, and the desired pressure or compression is obtained through the tightening of mounting screws 34a (not shown in Fig. l), a plurality of such screws being provided throughout the length of the threshold. Preferably these screws pass through the drainage plate 3| with a relatively tight t so as to retain all water on the upper surface of the plate 3|.

It will be evident that the provision of the drainage means as an integral or unitary por tion of the threshold simpliiles the problem of mounting the threshold, and removes the personal factor which so often results in improper drainage of the parts of the structure, and subsequent deterioration of the various elements of `the structure involved.

As a practical matter, several weepholes 3Q and discharge ports 32 are provided at longitudinally spaced points in each threshold, and provision is made in the present device to prevent the entrance of wind through the drainage system. To this end baille means is preferably provided in the space between the treads 22 and 23 and the drainage plate 3|. Such baille means may be simply provided by an angle bar 35 extending throughout the length of the threshold and wedged between the forwardly converging opposed surfaces of the tread 22 and the drain plate 3|. Thus in the present form the angle of the bar 35 is engaged with the tread wall 22 while the edges of the two flanges of the bar, identified as 35a and 35h, engage the plate 3|. The bar 35 by this arrangement is firmly positioned and acts as a double baille, small slots or notches 36 and Sl being provided in the lower edges of the flanges 35a and 35b so as to form drain passages. Preferably the notches 36 and 31 are staggered longitudinally of the bar 35 (as shown in Fig. 2) and the outer notches 36 are staggered with respect to the discharge ports 32, thereby providing an increased bailling effect for retarding wind passage, while permitting relatively free ilow of water along the plate 3| toward its ultimate point of discharge. U

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a threshold 'which may be readily installed to secure proper and continued drainage, and which, by reason of the devious yet certain drainage path, prevents appreciable wind passage into the interior of the dwelling. Since the outer edge of the threshold may be properly calked throughout its entire length, there is no admission of water beneath the threshold, and as a consequence, deterioration of the floor structure is prevented. Moreover, the ultimate discharge ports of the drainage system are so protected and positioned as to prevent clogging, and hence continued satisfactory functioning is assured.

We claim as our invention:

1. A threshold comprising an elongated body having inner and outer supporting flanges extending downwardly along its opposite edges, and providing a longitudinally extending upwardly facing tro-ugh adjacent to said inner flange, a water discharge port formed in said body adjacent to said outer flange but spaced a substantial distance above the lower edge of said flange, said port being located at a lower level than the bottom of said trough, and drainage means providing a devious outwardly sloping drainage path from said trough to said port.

2. A threshold comprising an elongated body providing supporting flanges along the inner and outer edges thereof adapted to rest on the floor when said body is put in plane, and having a longitudinal upwardly facing trough adjacent to said inner flange, a water discharge port formed in said body adjacent to said outer flange but spaced substantially above and horizontally inwardly from the lowermost outer edge of said outer flange, and drainage means forming a drainage path from said trough to said port, said body providing an outwardly and downwardly sloping surface outwardly of said port to receive water from said port and drain the water outwardly and downwardly from said port onto said floor.

3. A threshold comprising an elongated body, one edge of which is adapted to constitute the outer edge and the other edge of which is adapted to constitute the inner edge of the threshold, said body being formed from metal to provide downwardly projecting supporting flanges extending along said inner and outer edges of said body and adapted to rest upon the mounting surface, and an upper tread wall extending between said bearing flanges, said tread wall having a surface sloping gradually upwardly from said outer edge to merge with a horizontal portion spaced from said inner edge, said tread wall, inwardly of said horizontal portion, being formed to provide a drain trough, and means in permanently xed relation to said body forming a drain passage communicating with said trough to receive water therefrom and discharging through said body at a point elevated above the lower extremity of the outer supporting flange, whereby to prevent the clogging of the discharge end of said passage by dust as such dust is swept along the floor at the line of juncture of the floor with said outer supporting flange.

4. A threshold having an elongated body with an upper tread wall and downwardly extending supporting flanges along opposite edges and an upwardly facing trough along one edge, the flange along the other edge having a continuous unbroken lower outer edge for Contact with the iloor upon which it is mounted, and means 'pro` viding a drain passage sloping from said trough to a discharge port opening through said body located at a substantial elevation above said lower outer edge of the outer flange on said other edge, whereby to avoid clogging of said discharge port by dust in the sweeping of such dust along the line of juncture of the oor with said outer supporting ilange.

5. A threshold of the character described comprising an elongated body having an upper tread wall and inner and outer supporting flanges eX- tending downwardly along opposite edges, said body having an upwardly facing trough adjacent to said inner flange and a drain plate sloping downwardly from beneath said trough to the outer ilange, said body providing drain openings from said trough onto said plate and from above said plate through the body above and adjacent to the lowermost edge of the outer supporting flange, and an angle bar having staggered notches in the edges of its ilanges and wedged longitudinally of the body between said tread wall and said plate with the edges of both of its flanges abutting said plate.

6. A threshold comprising an elongated body having inner and outer downwardly extending supporting flanges along its inner and outer edges, and an upwardly facing trough along its inner edge, a drainage plate formed integrally with said body yand sloping outwardly and downwardly from below said trough to a juncture with said outer supporting flange, said body having a weephole to drain water from said trough onto said drain plate, and having a discharge port formed in the outer portion of the body a substantial distance above the lowermost extremity of said outer flange so as to drain water from said plate.

7. A threshold comprising, in combination, an elongated body having an upper trea-d wall and an upwardly facing trough along one edge, downwardly extending supporting flanges along opposite edges of said body, a drain plate sloping downwardly from beneath said trough to the iiange at the other edge of said body, said trough having a weephole discharging onto said plate and said body having a drain port from said plate to the outside of the body adjacent to said other edge but elevated above the lower outermost edge of said other edge, and baille means between said upper tread and said drain plate operable to retard the passage of wind from said port to said trough.

8. A threshold of the character described comprising an elongated body member providing a broad upwardly facing tread portion with a trough along one edge, said edge being adapted to constitute the inner edge when installed on a oor, said body member having a downwardly extending supporting means adjacent said inner edge adapted to rest on such a oor so as to support said trough a substantial distance above the floor, and a continuous downwardly extending bearing ange along the other edge of said body member, said bearing flange having a continuous straight lower outer edge adapted to rest upon the floor, and having a downwardly facing groove of substantial width located horizontally inwardly from said straight edge and adapted to receive plastic calking material to seal the joint between said flange and the floor, said flange having a weephole formed therein spaced upwardly a substantial distance -above said lower outer edge of said flange, and drainage means for receiving and draining water from said trough outwardly to disch-arge such water from said weephole, said drainage means, above said calking groove, being formed to convey said water to said weephole at a level above the uppermost part of said groove.

PHILIP R. OFTEDAL. D. G. KINGSLEY. 

